Index printing machine



Sept. 24, 1957 H. A. MccLosKY 2,807,207

" INDEX PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORATTORNEY p 195-7 H. A. M cLosKY 2,807,207

INDEX PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, les 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT ORHam/20 4. mama/m ATTORNEY Sept 24, 1957 H. A. MccLosKY 2,807,207

' INDEX PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jam,- 27, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTOR. Q fiamAo/a ,wazcv/rr ATTORNEY Sept. 24, 1957 H. A. MccLOsKY2,807,207

I INDEX PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.HOW/R0 A M'cwJ/rr ATTORNEY United States Patent INDEX PRINTING MACHINEHoward A. McClosky, Silver Spring, Md.

Application January 27, 1956, Serial No. 561,957

6 Claims. (Cl. 101-41) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), see.266) sional Directory or the like, for the purpose of readilylocatingthe various topics or classes of subject matter therein.

Formerly, the printing of cut-out indexes has been done manually, sincethe step-up surfaces to be printed do not provide a flat surface whichcan be accommodated by conventional printing presses. Also, because ofthe varying number of pages under each alphabetical letter or thevarious topics, the step-up not being uniform, even the manual processwas inherently time consuming an expensive.

It is therefore one of the objects of this invention to eliminate one ormore of the disadvantages of presently known index printing.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine for rapidlyprinting cut-out indexes, regardless of the number of pages to eachletter or topic;

Still another object of this invention is to provide a machine forprinting cut-out indexes as though said indexes were a flat surface;' i

A further object of this invention is to provide a cut-out indexprinting mechanism which may readily .be attached to aconventionalprinting press, preferably of the upright four column type.

The foregoing and related objects hereinafter apparent are accomplishedby this invention, wherein the means for printing the cut-out indexescomprises a separate type member for each index to be printed, and adrive means for each type member, arranged so that the individual typemembers are brought into firm and uniform contact with the indexesregardless-0f the number of pages to each index.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will becomemore apparent from the following description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a standard upright printing pressto which the mechanism embodying the present invention has beenattached.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the press shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detailed front elevational view of the mechanism embodyingthe invention.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of Fig. 3, having the mid portion and certainelements eliminated for clarity; the right hand portion being asectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and looking in thedirection of the arrows:

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of Fig. 3, taken along the line 5--5of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the 2,897,207 Patented Sept.24, 1957 arrows, certain elements having been eliminated for clarity.

Fig. 6 is a front view and a side view of the pusher and plunger,respectively.

The printing machine to which the mechanism embodying the presentinvention has been applied for illustration purposes only, is shown inFigs. 1 and 2, which comprises a base 1 to which is attached fourupright columns 2. A stationary head 4 is fixed to the tops of the fourcolumns, and carries the bed 8'to which type or printing plates areattached in the normal use of the machine. A reciprocating table 3 whichcarries the work supporting platen 7 may be operated by the conventionaldrive mechanism in the well known manner.

The invention to be described more fully hereinafter, is shown as anattachment 6, which is rigidly fixed to the stationary bed 8.

A detailed showing of the invention is found in Figs. 3, 4and 5, whereina frame member 13, having projecting portions 16 is adapted to be boltedto the stationary head of the printing press. The projections 16 areslotted, as shown in the cross-sectional detail on the right handportion of Fig. 3, to form the slot 26. A drive plate 14, having itsendsmachined to a sliding fit in slot 26, is biased against the cap 17 bymeans of the spring 25 said spring being set in a tapped hole 27 at thebottom of slot 26.

A base plate 18 is also bolted or otherwise fastened to the frame member13. A plurality of spacers 20 are placed over'the plate 18, and clampedthereon by set screws 21. A cover plate19 is fastened to the base plate18, thereby forming an elongated space between the spacers. The plungers23 to which the type may be attached are fitted in the spaces betweenthe spacers, and are held-in a retracted position by means of thesprings 24 which are fastened between the post 35 on the plunger 23 andpost 36.0n the cover plate 19.

A plate 15is bolted to the drive plate 14.- A plurality.

of graduatedpushers 22 are mounted on the drive assembly. The slots 34are provided in plates 14 and 15 to.

allow for horizontal'adjustment of the pushers, so that with the properchoicefof the plate dimensions-the pushers will be directly above theplungers. 'The slots 37 provide forverticaladjustment of the pushers.

The drive me'chanismis shown in Fig. 3 and comprises the elements shownat the extreme right hand portion of the drawing. This is duplicated onthe left side also. In the drive mechanism, a cam 11 is pivotedintermediate the ends and is driven by the rod 28 which is attached tothe reciprocating table 3 through the adjustable sleeve 30 and rod 31and the bracket 10. The adjustable sleeve 30 is shown as having athreaded recess in the lower end for receiving the end'of rod 31. Theupper end of sleeve 30 is tapped at 32 to receive the end of the rod 28.A spring 38 may be inserted beneath the rod 28 to maintain the 28 firmlyagainst cam 11 and to provide a resilient coupling. This couplingprovides smooth operation of the cam 11 and prevents excessive wear ofthe contacting surfaces. The upper end of the rod 28 passes throughbracket 29 and is slotted as at 33 in Fig. 2, to receive the end of cam11. The slot preferably has a small bronze wheel (not shown) mountedtherein to provide a minimum of abrasive wear between the slot and cam.Roller 12 is mounted in the other end of the cam 11 to provide a rollingcontact with the upper surface of drive plate 14.

When the invention is attached to a standard printing press asillustrated, a separate work support 9, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, isprovided.

In operation, the operator opens a book, exposing the pre-cut step-upindex. The book is placed on the work support 9, with the index directlybeneath the type carrying plungers. Then with the press in the closedprinting position the plungers 23 and pushers 22 are spaced and adjustedfor the particular length of index and number of pages for each index.When the press moves to the open position, the springs 24 return thetype carrying plungers 23 back to the normal position. As the printingcycle continues, the ink roller 5 is carried forward and applies ink tothe type.

Then, as the table closes, the rod 28 raises the outer end of cam 11,and in the printing position, cam 11 pushes the driver plate down intothe slot 26 against the spring 25. The pushers 22 drive the typeplungers 23 into contact with the cut-out indexes of the book and printthe indicia as desired.

t is therefore apparent that, with the disclosed invention, printing ofcut-out indexes may be carried out rapidly and economically. Theinvention provides a uniform pressure for each index to be printed, andtherefore the printing will not be heavy for the index at one end of thebook and light at the other end also when used as an attachment for astandard press, as illustrated, it eliminates the need for a separatemachine for index printing.

While the invention has been illustrated as an attachment for a standardpress, it is readily apparent that the scope of the invention is not solimited. Since many apparently difiering embodiments of this inventionWill occur to one skilled in the art, it is obvious that various changescan be made in the specific details shown and described withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A cut-out index printing means comprising a stationary frame memberhaving a pair of spaced slots therein, a drive plate member having endportions slidably fitted in said slots and having resilient meansbiasing said drive plate member in one end of said slot, a plurality ofvariable length pusher means adjustably mounted on said drive platemember, a base plate member mounted on said frame member and spacedthereon from said drive plate member, a plurality of type carryingplungers spaced on said base plate member in accordance with the lengthof the index desired, said plungers slidably engaging said base member,cover plate means attached to said base plate member for holding saidplungers in sliding relation therewith, means for depressing said driveplate member in said slot so as to drive said pusher means intoengagement with said plungers.

2. A cut-out index printing means as in claim 1, in

mgr which said plungers are resiliently biased in a retracted position.

3. A cut-out index printing means as defined by claim 2, in which saidresilient means comprises a spring connected between said cover plateand a projection on said plunger.

4. A machine for cut-out index printing of books comprising a stationarymeans, a plurality of spaced type members slidably mounted on saidstationary means, resilient means restraining each of said type membersin a first position, a moving work support means adapted to move intoprinting position and return, drive means actuated by said support meansfor moving said type mem bers to a second position which is differentfor each of said type members, said drive means comprising a pluralityof pushers graduated in length and attached to a common drive plate,said plate being cam operated by said work support means. I

5. In combination with an upright printer having a stationary head and areciprocating work supporting platen, a cut-out step-up index printingmeans comprising a plurality of type carrying means slidingly attachedto said head, drive means for each of said type carrying means andhaving a length predetermined by each stepup index to be printed, meansconnected to said work supporting means for actuating said drive means,whereby said type carrying means are driven into contact with said -workin varying amounts in accordance with said predetermined length.

6. A mechanism for printing upon an uneven surface, having fiat segmentsthereof at difierent levels from adjacent segments, which comprises, aplurality of type members, one for each flat segment of said surface,resilient means restraining said type members in a first position, aplurality of pusher means, onef or each type member and mounted directlyabove said member, for pushing said type members into a second position,said pusher means having different lengths determined by said differentlevels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

